Stands for model aircraft

ABSTRACT

A stand for the display of model aircraft which is provided with a fan for directing a current of air through a duct so as to flow past the freely-revolvable propellor of the aircraft.

United States Patent Tong May 27, 1975 STANDS FOR MODEL AIBQRAFT [75]Inventor: Duncan Tong, Hong Kong, Hong [56] u References cued KongUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,198,509 4/1940 Burke 46 44 [73] Ass'gnee' 223;"Hong Kong Hong 3,083,497 4/1963 Novak et al. 46/44 Filed! Feb. 27, 1973Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene 1 A N Assistant Examiner-Robert F.Cutting 1 PP 0 336 206 Attorney, Agent, 0'? Firm-Hyman Hurvitz [30]Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT May 1972 United Kingdom21987/72 A stand for the display of model aircraft which is providedwith a fan for directing a current of air through Cc]! 42/2134}: 28/12 aduct so as to flow past the freely revolvable propeb ll 1 of th c ft 53Field Of Search 46/44, 76, 243 AV; or e Ta 5 Ciaims, 3 Drawing FiguresSTANDS FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT This invention relates to childrens toys, andparticularly to model airplanes and airports and stands therefor.

A model airplane stand according to the invention includes means forproviding a current of air directed towards the, or eachfreely-revolvable propellor of one or more model airplanes suitablypositioned on the stand.

Preferably the stand includes a flat base having one or more holesconnected by ducting to a fan, so that the airplane or airplanes canstand with their propellors over the holes. The fan is preferably of thecentrifugal type and may include throttling means for the air intake.

The fan is preferably driven by a battery-powered motor and it and thebatteries may be located in a dummy building attached to the flat base.Alternatively, a simple stand for one airplane may comprise a base, inwhich the motor fan and batteries are located; and an upstanding portionwhich supports the airplane. A duct for air may then be incorporated inthe upstanding portion.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a model airplane stand;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the complete stand of FIG. 1 showing anairplane in its operative position; and,

FIG. 3 is a side view of part of the stand of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the stand 2 comprises a flat base 4 on whichare mounted a fan housing 6 and a motor 8. A battery compartment 10 andswitch 12 are mounted adjacent the motor and suitably wired to it.

The fan housing 6 is of a volute configuration and encloses acentrifugal fan. An inlet 14 is positioned in the centre of one side andan outlet 16 is arranged to communicate with airducts 18 and 20 whichextend along the underside of the base 4. Apertures 22 and 24respectively in the base 4 communicate with the interior of the ducts 18and 20, so that when the fan motor is switched on, air issues from theapertures.

Referring to FIG. 2, the fan, motor and battery compartment are normallycovered by a structure 26 which may be made to represent a hangar orother airport building. A model aircraft 28 can be positioned on thebase 4 so that its propellor 30, which is mounted so as to be freelyrotatable, is directly above the aperture 22, and for this purposemarkings or indentations (not shown) may be provided in the surface 4 toreceive the wheels 32 of the aircraft.

The switch member 34 of the switch 12 is arranged to protrude from therear of the structure 26, as is a control lever 36 for a pivoted flap 38over the inlet 14 of the fan. In use, when the switch member 34 isoperated the motor drives the fan and air is drawn into the inlet 14, atvarying rates according to the setting of the flap 38. The air is blownthrough the ducts 18 and 20 and emerges through the holes 22 and 24,causing the propellors of the aircraft to rotate. The speed of rotationvaries according to the quantity of air delivered by the fan.

I claim: 1. A stand for a model aircraft having an airscrew comprising:a base; a motor fixed to said base; an air outlet in said base; a fandrivably connected to said motor; and a duct connecting said fan to saidair outlet in said base, said outlet having dimensions such that astream of air can be directed through said outlet against substantiallyonly said airscrew; and locating means on said base for so positioningsaid aircraft on said base that only said airscrew is positioned in saidstream of air. 2. A stand according to claim 1 further comprising:throttle means to control the flow of air into the fan. 3. A stand formodel aircraft comprising: a base; a motor fixed to the base; a fandrivably connected to the motor; at least one duct connecting the fan toan outlet in the base, whereby a stream of air is directed through saidduct to said air outlet; an aircraft positioned on said base so thatonly its airscrew is positioned in said stream of air, and at least oneset of depressions in the base to locate the wheels of said aircraft sothat said airscrew is positioned over said air outlet. 4. A modelaircraft display comprising: a flat base; a motor fixed to the base; afan drivably connected to the motor; throttle means controlling the airintake to the fan; at least one air duct connecting the fan to an outletin the base; and at least one set of depressions in the base to locatethe wheels of an aircraft so that its airscrew is positioned over an airoutlet; and at least one aircraft positioned on the locating depressionsof the base. 5. A model aircraft display comprising a base, a motorfixed to said base, a fan drivably connected to said motor, at least oneair duct connecting the fan to at least one outlet in the base, locatingmeans on said base to locate an aircraft so that its airscrew ispositioned over said at least one outlet, I at least one aircraft, and 4cooperating locating means on the aircraft for locating said aircraftwith respect to said locating means onsaidbase.

1. A stand for a model aircraft having an airscrew comprising: A BASE; AMOTOR FIXED TO SAID BASE; AN AIR OUTLET IN SAID BASE; A FAN DRIVABLYCONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR; AND A DUCT CONNECTING SAID FAN TO SAID AIROUTLET IN SAID BASE, SAID OUTLET HAVING DIMENSIONS SUCH THAT A STREAM OFAIR CAN BE DIRECTED THROUGH SAID OUTLET AGAINST SUBSTANTIALLY ONLY SAIDAIRSCREW; AND LOCATING MEANS ON SAID BASE FOR SO POSITIONING SAIDAIRCRAFT ON SAID BASE THAT ONLY SAID AIRSCREW IS POSITIONED IN SAIDSTREAM OF AIR.
 2. A stand according to claim 1 further comprising:throttle means to control the flow of air into the fan.
 3. A stand formodel aircraft comprising: a base; a motor fixed to the base; a fandrivably connected to the motor; at least one duct connecting the fan toan outlet in the base, whereby a stream of air is directed through saidduct to said air outlet; an aircraft positioned on said base so thatonly its airscrew is positioned in said stream of air, and at least oneset of depressions in the base to locate the wheels of said aircraft sothat said airscrew is positioned over said air outlet.
 4. A modelaircraft display comprising: a flat base; a motor fixed to the base; afan drivably connected to the motor; throttle means controlling the airintake to the fan; at least one air duct connecting the fan to an outletin the base; and at least one set of depressions in the base to locatethe wheels of an aircraft so that its airscrew is positioned over an airoutlet; and at least one aircraft positioned on the locating depressionsof the base.
 5. A model aircraft display comprising a base, a motorfixed to said base, a fan drivably connected to said motor, at least oneair duct connecting the fan to at least one outlet in the base, locatingmeans on said base to locate an aircraft so that its airscrew ispositioned over said at least one outlet, at least one aircraft, andcooperating locating means on the aircraft for locating said aircraftwith respect to said locating means on said base.